At the 163rd fur-auction the top-lot sable was purchased by a Russian buyer

On April 24-28 the 163rd international fur-auction took place in Saint-Petersburg. 136 customers from 13 countries took part in it. Total receipts from the auction equalled $12. 5 million, which is 40% more than the receipts from the auction held in April 2003. About half a million commercial fur pelts (sable, weasel, Siberian striped weasel, squirrel) and furs from captive bred animals (mink, polecat, polar fox, racoon) were put up for sale.

Commercial sable displayed at the auction almost sold out: 98% of 171 thousand pelts were sold due to high buyer competition. The average price of a sable pelt was $62. 2 (5% less than it was in January). The top-lot sable was purchased by the Italian company "Guida s.r.l." for a Russian client Sergey Popov, Galerie des Serges (Moscow).

There was a rather high demand for Weasel, Siberian striped weasel, Silver-black, Platinum and Red fox. 47% of the total amount of mink pelts put up for sale (140 thousand pelts) were sold.